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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When did Dennis get possession of the Long Island house?

2. Why does Billy promise to send money?

3. What do Dennis and Billy do every day after their work on the house?

4. What does Mr. Holtzman's assistant think about the young woman?

5. How did Dennis' wife die?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the irony of Billy's alcoholism?

2. Who is the Irish girl?

3. What was the fate of the Irish girl?

4. Explain the variances on the theme of love in Chapter 6.

5. What is the mood of the lunch when Dennis and his daughter take Billy after they pick him up at the train station?

6. Why does Dennis decide to tell Billy that Eva had died?

7. How do Dennis and Billy meet the two sisters from Ireland?

8. How does Billy's promise to Eva come about?

9. How does Dennis' daughter meet Matt?

10. How has Dennis' mother, Sheila, finally feel happy in her life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Dennis Lynch. What are his physical characteristics? What are his motivations? What are his fears? What are his dreams? What else can you say about Dennis?

Essay Topic 2

Explain what you think Billy meant when he inscribed the post card to Maeve with "Beautiful Friend." What this as much tenderness as he could muster for his wife of so many years? Or did Billy have the gift of Irish romanticism in his soul? Which do you prefer to believe? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses several instances of irony in the book. One example is the funeral dinner held at a bar for Billy who died from alcohol poisoning. Cite at least three other examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony.

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